The city is a fantastic source of beauty and inspiration, with all the glitz and glamor glistening beneath the city lights. But there is another side of the city altogether, one rife with its own kind of allure. Across the tracks, away from the dazzle of downtown, lies a darker imagination, this one looking to grunge-ridden, dilapidated architecture for inspiration. There is a beauty that pervades this kind of urban decay and captured wonderfully through a photographer’s well-trained eye. These industrial city scenes are wonderfully dark and offer a glimpse of the weathered face beneath the city facade.

In this inspirational installment, we take a tour and show the charm of a more neglected and worn side of the city. We showcase the beauty of urban decay, a series of photos of this eroded elegance that photographers have captured brilliantly. These gorgeously grungy images have a haunting appeal, a stirring quality that radiates from within and that earned them a spot on this list.

35 Beautiful Examples Of ‘Urban Decay Photography’

Magnus Lindqvist8
“Your Worst Nightmare”. “This is a bit different from what I normally shoot. I had this shot in my head for a very long time but it wasn’t until last weekend I finally shot it. The only light source is a shop light behind the door. The place is very narrow and kind of creepy. I had to make sure that the door behind me stayed open or it would have locked me in.” Lexington, Kentucky.

picaddict30
Highgate Cemetery West London. This beautiful statue lying there as if it would be alive had to be covered with branches. (a wish of the the relatives) but the guide was so kind to clear the grave a little bit for us. I have never seen before in my life such a beautiful touching statue…

Rob Bowen is a staff writer for Web Hosting Geeks and Top Web Hosting, a longtime freelance designer, and burgeoning videographer and filmmaker whose creative voice and works can be heard and found around the web.

Chris Luckhardt

I was actually with Tim Neesam when he took that photo. I would agree with #12 about many of these being over-processed. Personally, I’m mostly a purist with my urban exploration photography. On the rare occasion I use HDR, I go for a “natural” look, if such a thing can be true of HDR photography.

Cdero

I like the photos but not the tittle nor the idea. There is nothing beautiful about social injustice (urban decay). No matter how a photo portrays it, urban decay not only shows but tells the story of inequality and injustices done to anyone without equal access top resources.

gummisig

Timothy

Stephanie

These are stunning. I love this sort of photography, and would totally love to go and do some urban exploring. There is another site that’s as stunning as these – Opacity.us you might also check out sometime.

Lisa Marie

rantrantrant

Urban decay. URBAN FUCKING DECAY.
there were 3 photos in there that werent even urban you fucking fagg0t.
dont start posting photography on urban decay then show me a picuture of a farm house, or half a wall of an old mill in the middle of fucking no-where. you never mentioned the beauty of rural decay.

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57

Bod

I like many of these shots, but the extensive use of HDR and/or PS make the pictures look like paintings, loosing ground with reality (to me). Of course that’s a personal feeling, but I would have enjoyed more “rawer” versions so to speak.

Yon

Joann Sondy

Overall I thought the post was a nice collection of images. But have to agree with some of the comments about overuse/abuse of PS filters. For some true B&W photography of Detroit, MI by my husband and photographer…

Jessi

Brind

I’ll throw my own urban exploration photography into the ring here: Flickr. I’ve been a fan of bsidez’s work for quite a while now, and although a lot of the photos here were heavily processed, I think they’re still great art in their own way.

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68

Celeste

Ted

narae

Ashley

Thanks for the ‘smashing’ post. I have my own collection of photographs that I took a couple months ago that would fit perfectly in this category! This proves that beauty doesn’t have to be new, clean, and in one piece, but rather to respect what has been left behind.

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72

Ashley

Thanks for the ‘smashing’ post. I have a group of photographs that I took a couple of months ago that would fit perfect in this collection! These remind us that ‘beauty’ doesn’t have to be new, clean, and in one piece, but rather to embrace what has been left behind!

zarathustra

Further evidence that HDR is one of the most abused photo techniques ever. Your affinity to it is ongoing and, at least by me, not appreciated. I don’t want to whine and I know you can’t appeal to all, but just for feedback’s sake I am a web developer (HTML, CSS, jQuery, PHP) and a keen photographer for many years and I am on the very very brink of deleting your entry in my “open every day” favourites folder. Sure that comic has something to do with it, but the commenter’s are overwhelmingly juvenile and easily pleased, and offer very little constructive feedback, it’s all starting to seem like a waste of time :( Remember posts like these? http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11/17/showcase-of-minimalist-and-clean-designs/ a real time-saving roundup? The above post saves me no time at all, I could just go to Flickr and type “urban HDR” (like you did). Like I said I am on the brink, I can’t be alone.

phill.d

Well i’d like to say i’ve just found out i have 2 pictures on here. I can say hand on heart that my 2 are neither manipulted with HDR or even photoshoped (I don’t have it and couldn’t be bothered trying to work it if i did)
They were edited on Picasso with a little tweak. Nothing more.
I think there are a few other stunning pics on here too. HDR or not.

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78

Ignatz Horowitz

#3 would have been nice if the highlights weren’t blown. And the cartoonie HDR pics? Please…enough’s enough. 11,14, and 21 can hardly be included as “urban”. #30 is almost good. Most of the guys on this site are trying waaay too hard, though. Just let it go.

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79

Ignatz Horowitz

kerry

all i can say is, i appreciate the fact that two of my images were chosen to be displayed in the group. my two images are not HDR, but have some minor tweaks in photoshop. i do believe there is an art to taking a picture, but photoshop can be a wonderfull extension to the art. sometimes HDR images have the dramatic feel one might be trying and get across. to each their own, i say

mike

Wow! Really great photos! This single webpage has completely changed my view on religion forever. You should check out my website sometime, in which I make lists of things I’ve bought/rented/listened to. It’s completely unrelated!

ben

Jon

Sick Britain

Excellent photos, there’s a load of awesome shots to be seen over on Flickr, I have my desktop rotating with different urbex photo every 15 minutes – if you want to do that try DeskLickr (Mac) or John’s Background Switcher (Windows).

Dearie Me

Looking at all these photographs I am beginning to think photoshop has some kinda new widget or brush or button called “decayify.” Come on folks, there is plenty of “awesome” decay around without the need to hit that widget.

-2

102

Tom

Some absolutely fantastic pictures here! Is that old theatre/cinema interior the Jesmond Cinema in Newcastle? I could be totally wrong but have a feeling I’ve seen a pic of the inside before. I used to walk past it every day while I was at university. It’s a great old building. Either way, your pics are awesome!

Jackeline Westerholm

I don’t even know how I finished up here, however I assumed this submit was once great. I do not recognize who you might be however certainly you are going to a well-known blogger if you happen to are not already ;) Cheers!

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